Diana Tokárová, Viliam Donič
This is a burning issue considering the growing number of occurrences of sleep breathing disorders and patients with
chronic musculoskeletal pain. Chronic pain of moderate and severe intensity is often treated with opioid analgesics. Indeed
it may be assumed that by relieving pain, sleep quality will improve concomitantly. In fact, it is much more complicated
because the combinations and effects of drugs varying according to type and duration may have various side
effects not only on the course of sleep architecture or on the tone of the respiratory muscles but also influence breathing
control during sleep. Treatment of pain with opioids in clinical practice may lead to a deterioration of ventilation during
sleep. Acting on μ (mu) opioid receptors in the central nervous system(CNS) can cause respiratory depression, they are
associated with higher risk for central sleep apnea(CSA) and ataxic breathing. They reduce upper airway muscle activation,
predisposing to snoring and cause obstructive sleep apnoe (OSA). They depress hypoxic and hypercapnic ventilatory
drive at which this state is leading to hypoventilation. Side adverse effects of opioids can cause irreversible changes
in the CNS, resulting in hypoxia with occasional fatal consequences. It is very important to recognize sleep apnea
in a timely manner and to determine appropriate ventilatory therapy.